A LOT can happen in 24 hours, especially when you've got a name like Bauer, and having looked in danger of losing his runners-up spot in the Melbourne Cup, Luca Cumani's grey is to be allowed to keep his prize after all.
Following a meeting of Racing Victoria Limited, chief steward Terry Bailey confirmed that Cumani couldn't be held responsible for administering electro-shockwave therapy to Bauer five days before the Cup, even though the local rules state such treat
ment can't be given in the final week prior to a race, because it was the RVL'S own vet who had recommended it.
"In these circumstances a trainer was reasonable to assume that a vet assigned by RVL would have been familiar with the rules," explained Bailey. Despite reports that connections of horses, who would have benefited had Bauer been disqualified, may now take legal action, Nick Williams, owner of the third, C'est La Guerre, said the matter is now closed as far as he's concerned, a similar stance being taken by Danny O'Brien, trainer of fourth home, Master O'Reilly.
"We're happy to go along with whatever the umpire decides," maintained Williams.
A delighted Cumani, who had previously admitted he wasn't aware the rules were different in Australia than they are in Britain, where the therapy can be used right up until race-day, said: "It would have been tantamount to asking a policeman for directions and he would send you left when you weren't supposed to go left and then give you a ticket.
"I don't think this will stop people sending their horses for the race, but what it highlights is that there should be more uniformity between countries that have international racing. I'll definitely be going back next year."
On the National Hunt scene, Nicky Henderson's Jack The Giant has been ruled out of a possible tilt at the King George after picking up an injury that could sideline him for the rest of the season, while only the hardest-hearted would have grudged Sam Thomas the double he rode at Wincanton yesterday. Thomas has endured a torrid couple of weeks since his unseating from Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase. He was also unseated from Big Buck's in the Hennessy and has lost the ride on Master Minded in the Tingle Creek to Tony McCoy.
Yesterday, he partnered Pepite De Soleil to victory in the South West Racing Club Juvenile Novices' Hurdle and, just like London buses, Thomas only had to wait 30 minutes for his next winner as Venetia Williams' even-money joint-favourite Lightning Strike made a winning debut over fences in the weatherbysshop.co.uk Beginners' Chase.
It's the first day of Sandown's Tingle Creek meeting and Roll Along is napped to land the Future Stars Chase. The best bet beat Air Force One at Ascot on his first run of the campaign and the runner-up's performance in the Hennessy next time hardly let the form down.
The full article contains 503 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
